Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 703: Officials and Servants

"It turns out that to reform rituals and music is to reform the law!"

"I wonder why there have been so many changes in the past two years. It's really unsettling."

After understanding the essence of the re-creation of rituals and music, Xu Xiake said suddenly.

Last year he had planned to travel north to the capital, but because the court wanted to survey the land and compile a yellow book, he had to stay at home.

After seeing that the court had even taken action against the Shen family, he and many other landowners in Jiangnan did not dare to defy the court. According to the court's policy, they divided the family property and set up the land that exceeded the limit as public land such as sacrificial land and school land.

Xu Xiake worked for half a year to complete this task. He complained to everyone:

"This imperial court is really something. They even control how much land each family has and how much rent to collect per acre of land."

"My father worked hard to revive the family business, but now he has to divide the land again because of land restrictions and rent restrictions."

As a famous landlord in Jiangnan, Xu Xiake's ancestors owned thousands of hectares of fertile land, nearly 100,000 acres of land, in the early days of the country.

When talking about the wealthy people in Jiangnan at that time, the Xu family would inevitably be mentioned. After the donation was allowed during the Jingtai period, the Xu family also transformed from a local noble family to an official gentry because of their donations of grain.

However, in the generation of Xu Xiake's great-grandfather Xu Jing, a major event occurred that affected several generations of the Xu family.

That was the case of missed examination questions in the 12th year of Hongzhi's reign. The most well-known thing about this case in later generations was that Tang Yin and Tang Bohu fell into trouble because of it.

However, the protagonist of this case was not Tang Yin, but Xu Xiake’s great-grandfather Xu Jing.

At that time, because Xu Jing's family was wealthy and he acted flamboyantly, when he participated in the imperial examination, there was a rumor that "Xu Jing, a rich man from Jiangyin, bribed money to get the test questions in advance." Tang Yin was implicated only because he had close contact with him.

Finally, after a thorough investigation by the imperial court, Xu Jing and Tang Yin were both stripped of their titles and removed from their official positions because they had exchanged money and gifts with the chief examiner Cheng Minzheng before the joint examination.

Xu Jing was depressed and looked forward to being pardoned, and died in the capital at the age of 35. Since then, the Xu family began to go downhill, and several generations in a row failed in the imperial examinations, and some even died young.

In the bureaucratic society of the Ming Dynasty, if no one in the family became an official, the family business would decline. Moreover, the division of the family business in each generation would disperse the family business.

The Xu family still had 40,000 acres of land by the time of Xu Jing. After Xu Jing's three sons and two daughters separated, Xu Xiake's great-grandfather Xu Qia only had more than 12,000 acres.

Xu Qia had five sons, and Xu Xiake's father Xu Youmian also had six brothers. After all the divisions, the land passed to Xu Youmian was only a few hundred acres.

Xu Youmian worked hard to revive his family business and prevent it from continuing to decline. But now he is forced to divide the land because of the land restriction order.

This made Xu Xiake sigh about how difficult his family was. It seemed that the Xu family had been in bad luck since the time of Emperor Gaozu Xu Jing.

Huang Daozhou listened to his complaints and said with concern:
"I've always heard that the Xu family is very wealthy. Could it be that your family owns a lot of land?"

Xu Xiake shook his head and smiled bitterly:

"That was all in the past. There aren't many now."

"After my three brothers divided the land, each family only had more than 300 acres of land."

"However, the imperial court not only imposed a property tax on families with more than 100 acres of land, but also restricted the land rent to no more than 50% and the annual rent to no more than one stone."

"The income from this farmland is getting lower and lower. I wonder when I can revive my family business?"

These words attracted many people to agree with them. They were very dissatisfied with the court's restrictions on land and rent.

However, the court's orders were tough, and rent and taxes were related to the number of places in the provincial examinations, so they could only suppress their dissatisfaction.

Chen Jiru didn't want to talk about such a sensitive topic, so he laughed and joked:
"If your Xu family wants to revive the family business, then the only option is to confer a title."

"One hundred thousand acres of land. Even an ordinary knight's fiefdom doesn't have that much. A high-ranking knight's fiefdom only has 150,000 acres."

"My dear friend Xia Ke, you must at least become a high-ranking knight in order to revive your family business!"

Everyone laughed when they heard this, but they were also shocked by the wealth of Xu Xiake's ancestors.

What Chen Jiru was talking about was only the land area. If calculated based on arable land, it would take hundreds of thousands or even millions of acres to reclaim 100,000 acres of arable land.

Moreover, how could the fertile fields in the south of the Yangtze River be comparable to the overseas lands granted by the emperor? Only millions of acres of land could perhaps be compared with the thousands of hectares of fertile fields owned by Xu Xiake's ancestors.

This makes people sigh: The Xu family is indeed a well-known family, and they were extremely wealthy in the past.

Xu Xiake listened to everyone's jokes and couldn't help but smile bitterly:

"It's impossible for me!"

"All my life, I just like traveling."

"Your Majesty, you won't be so foolish as to confer a title and fiefdom on someone like me?"

Everyone laughed again when they heard this, and Chen Jiru said to him:

“Reading Buddhist books behind closed doors, welcoming guests with the door open, and exploring mountains and rivers are the three joys of life.”

"How can we tire ourselves out physically and mentally just for the sake of wealth and fame?"

"I once wished to see all the beautiful mountains and rivers in the world, but now I am old and weak, so I can only ask my friend Xiake to take a good look at them for me!"

He praised Xu Xiake highly and considered him a remarkable man.

Xu Xiake laughed out loud, thinking that Chen Meigong was indeed a hermit and his confidant regardless of age difference.

After a few people talked for a while, the topic gradually became more relaxed. At this time, Huang Daozhou suddenly said:
"If you want to obtain a title, it's actually not that difficult."

"Zhang Xianzhong recovered a thousand miles of territory and was awarded the title of Earl. If Brother Xu can recover or develop a hundred miles of territory, he will most likely be awarded a hereditary knighthood."

"When you travel in the future, you might as well go out and explore. You might find a place and make a great contribution."

Upon hearing this, Xu Xiake waved his hands and said to Huang Daozhou:

"Brother Shi Zhai thinks too highly of me."

"Although I'm not weak, I'm not a strong man either."

"This matter of expanding territory is only done by warriors like General Zhang. I'd better forget it!"

I don't think I have the ability to expand my territory.

Huang Daozhou said seriously:
"Xia Ke underestimated himself!"

"You have been able to travel for decades without any harm. You must be a person of great talent."

"Mr. Mei, you are on good terms with Yuan Shumi, and you have written "Proposals to Suppress the Slavery", so you must be well versed in military affairs."

"Do you think Xiake's skills can be used in military affairs?"

Chen Jiru also became interested after hearing what Huang Daozhou said. He pondered Xu Xiake's ability and said:
"You know what, many of Xiake's skills can be used in military affairs."

Pinching his fingers, he said:

"A general needs to know astronomy. My friend Xiake has traveled for many years but has never been troubled by rain, snow, wind or frost. It is obvious that he knows the weather well."

"A general needs to know geography, not to mention the skills in this area. If Xiake had gotten lost easily outside, he wouldn't be here."

"With Xiake's abilities, he is more than qualified to be a guide in the army, if not anything else."

"If the imperial court is to go on an expedition abroad in the future, it will definitely need people like Xia Ke!"

Xu Xiake was stunned, but Huang Daozhou clapped his hands and praised: "Mr. Mei Gong said it well!"

"Will the imperial court need people like Xiake when it goes to war overseas in the future?"

"The reason why the court was able to recover the Nurgan Prefecture and build the Andong Protectorate to threaten the Jianlu from the north was because Earl Ningyuan explored the Golden Horn Peninsula, and the court asked Duke Jiangling to open up a route from the sea to Temple Street."

"Xia Ke's abilities can be used to great effect in this world. It all depends on whether you want to achieve great things!"

After thinking about it, Chen Jiru also said:
"If you can really explore a new route, you, little friend Xia Ke, will have a chance to obtain the title of nobility."

"During the Western Han Dynasty, Zhang Qian, Marquis of Bowang, was made a marquis because he opened up the Western Regions."

"If Li Guang had a capable guide to lead the way, he wouldn't get lost every time he went out on an expedition, and it would be difficult for Li Guang to be promoted."

"My dear friend Xiake, your skills will be very useful in this world!"

After both of them said so, the others thought about it and then echoed it.

Given the importance the current emperor places on overseas areas, if Xu Xiake can really explore a new route, he will definitely have the opportunity to be conferred a title in the future.

Even Xu Xiake was moved and said to everyone:
"If you can explore the roads while traveling, wouldn't you be willing?"

"To be honest, I heard that Jiangling Principality has magnificent scenery, which is very different from the Central Plains. I have long wanted to travel there."

"It's just that Jiangling Principality is too far away, and I don't have any connections. I don't know how to get there."

The Principality of Jiangling enjoyed a great reputation in the south of the Yangtze River, and this was not only because Zhang Tongchang was a southerner.

Also, the wood and ice from Jiangling Principality are best-selling items in Jiangnan.

Many people are curious about what the Principality of Jiangling was like, and how Zhang Tongchang became the ruler of a country outside the Great Wall?
When Chen Jiru heard what Xu Xiake said, he stroked his beard and smiled:

"My dear friend Xiake, you are willing to make achievements during your trip. How can we not help you?"

"I heard that many vassal states are recruiting scholars. If you are willing to help out during your travels, I will write a letter to recommend you to Lord Jiangling."

"When the fleet of Jiangling Principality returns, I can take you with me."

Huang Daozhou also said:
"Governor Anton Hong was born in Quanzhou Prefecture, which is adjacent to my hometown, Zhangzhou Prefecture."

"I can also write a letter and ask him to help take care of it."

Others also offered help and were willing to provide various conveniences for Xu Xiake to travel to Jiangling Principality.

This inspired Xu Xiake and made him determined to travel to Jiangling Principality. He planned to start from Jiangling Principality and travel overseas. Maybe he would really get the chance to be conferred a title as these people said.

Listening to Xu Xiake's plan, Chen Jiru suddenly said:

"If you are going to travel overseas frequently in the future, it would be best to donate and become a public official."

"With this identity, you can live in various free trade zones. You can also get various conveniences when you meet the court's overseas agencies and vassal government offices."

"This status of a public official is a must for people who do business overseas."

This was the news he learned when he was living in Songjiang Prefecture.

Unlike the lukewarm donations from the Gongshi in the mainland, Zhu Youjian needed to stimulate them with preferential treatment in terms of election rights, clothing, etc. People overseas highly recognized the civil title of Gongshi and regarded it as the most basic title of nobility in the Ming Dynasty.

With this title, one’s status is different from that of ordinary civilians.

Moreover, overseas, those who donate money to the government will not be discriminated against, but will be regarded as a symbol of financial strength.

If the ship owner of an overseas merchant ship does not have the status of a public official, he will be looked down upon.

Therefore, Chen Jiru suggested to Xu Xiake that he should donate money to become a public official.

It took 1,000 taels to donate to become a public official, which was not beyond Xu Xiake's reach. But he was very opposed to the idea of ​​donating because his father refused to donate to become a public official.

What made him even more unhappy was that some slaves donated money to the government and regarded themselves as servants of the emperor, and asked their former masters to return their indentures.

This made him regard the public officials as a means for the slaves to escape from slavery, and he was unwilling to be a public official with them. He even said angrily:

"Donating to the public officials is really a great harm."

“I don’t know how many slaves are no longer focused on their work.”

"Even worse, some people embezzled money from their masters and used it to donate to the public officials."

"You said the emperor is really something. Why does he allow slaves to donate money to become officials?"

As soon as this complaint came out, many locals echoed it. They were also victims of the policy of donating money to become officials, and the means they used to control those wealthy slaves were suddenly gone.

Those slaves dared to sue them because of their status as Gongshi, and the local officials did not dare to embarrass them easily. In fact, because Gongshi was a court title and they were theoretically the emperor's retainers, when deciding whether the contract of sale could be redeemed, the local officials would most likely favor them.

It is impossible that the emperor's subjects are slaves of others. How can the emperor save his dignity?

"A servant is unwilling to keep his position. This is going to break the moral code!"

"Brother Shi Zhai, you are now the magistrate of Suzhou Prefecture. You will not be biased towards slaves in matters like this in the future, right?"

A question from a Suzhou man left Huang Daozhou speechless.

As the magistrate of Suzhou Prefecture, he was now in charge of the judicial affairs of Suzhou Prefecture. All cases punishable by caning or above in various counties were to be tried by him.

The case concerning slaves was one of his most difficult.

Only when you are in this place can you understand the depth of the conflict between masters and servants in Jiangnan.

Huang Daozhou was very disgusted with some slaves who turned around and oppressed their masters after becoming rich, and he also believed that this was a disruption of social order.

But this kind of thing is rare after all. Most of the time, some wealthy families rely on the former master-servant relationship to control their slaves and want them to be their slaves for generations.

He had seen a garrison commander who returned home in glory, but was humiliated by his master. If the garrison commander was not allowed to leave his post in this situation, how would the court save its reputation? Who would be willing to serve the court in the future?
This made him say with a straight face:
"According to the provisions of the Great Ming Code: If a commoner's family keeps slaves or maids, they shall be beaten with the stick 100 times and then released to become good people."

"The Ming Dynasty Code also stipulates that the number of slaves and maids employed by dukes and marquises shall not exceed 20; the number of slaves and maids employed by the first rank shall not exceed 12; the number of slaves and maids employed by the second rank shall not exceed 10; and the number of slaves and maids employed by the third rank shall not exceed 8."

"If you strictly abide by the law, Huang will naturally protect you when he makes a judgment."

The person who just questioned was stunned.

Only then did they realize that Huang Daozhou was a gentleman who insisted on the original etiquette and laws of the Ming Dynasty and was banished from the capital for this.

But how can they follow these two laws?

People like Xu Xiake, who never held an official position and had no achievements, are now just common people.

According to the Ming Dynasty Law, he should unconditionally release the slaves and let them become good people, and he should also be beaten with the stick 100 times.

This is obviously impossible, not to mention some wealthy families in Jiangnan who have hundreds or thousands of slaves, or even tens of thousands of them.

No law in the Ming Dynasty allows this.

Therefore, they could not possibly agree to Huang Daozhou's request, and there was no question of him being protected by the law.

(End of this chapter)